High Habitual Calcium Intake Attenuates Bone Loss in Early Postmenopausal Chinese Women: An 18-Month Follow-Up Study

This study assessed the association of habitual dietary calcium intake and bone loss in early postmenopausal women. Four hundred fifty-four healthy postmenopausal Chinese women were enrolled for this 18-month cohort study. The subjects were 48–62 yr of age and within 12 yr of natural menopause. Diet...

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Published in:The journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 2004-05, Vol.89 (5), p.2166-2170
Main Authors: Ho, Suzanne C, Chen, Yu-Ming, Woo, Jean L. F, Lam, Silvia S. H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Bone Density - drug effects
Calcium, Dietary - administration & dosage
Cohort Studies
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Endocrinopathies
Feeding. Feeding behavior
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Linear Models
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal - prevention & control
Treatment Outcome
Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
Vertebrates: endocrinology
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Summary:This study assessed the association of habitual dietary calcium intake and bone loss in early postmenopausal women. Four hundred fifty-four healthy postmenopausal Chinese women were enrolled for this 18-month cohort study. The subjects were 48–62 yr of age and within 12 yr of natural menopause. Dietary intake was assessed by the food frequency method, and bone mass was measured using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry at baseline and 9 and 18 months. The association between mean habitual dietary intake over the follow-up period and the rate of bone loss was examined. During the 18-month follow-up, the total loss rates of BMD at the whole body, lumber spine, femoral neck, and total hip were 1.28, 0.60, 1.54, and 0.56% (all P < 0.01). Subjects were stratified into four quartiles according to calcium intake during the period of follow-up. Quartiles I–IV had median intakes of 341, 505, 682, and 934 mg Ca/d. Subjects in quartile IV had significantly less BMD loss at the whole body and less BMD/bone mineral content loss at Ward’s triangle, even after adjustments for confounding factors (by analysis of covariance). Multiple linear regression analyses showed significant positive associations between calcium intake and BMD change at the whole body (P = 0.006) and Ward’s triangle (P = 0.021). Calcium intake was significantly associated with bone mineral content change at the trochanter (P = 0.025) and Ward’s triangle (P < 0.001). No significant effect of calcium intake at the spine was found. In conclusion, habitual dietary calcium intake had a beneficial effect on bone loss at the whole body and some regions of the hip. Our findings suggest that an intake exceeding 900 mg calcium/d was helpful in the prevention of cortical bone loss among early postmenopausal Chinese women.
ISSN:0021-972X
1945-7197
DOI:10.1210/jc.2003-031338